Clasp.



, PATENTED MAY 21, 1907. G. H. PHILLIPS.

CLASP. APPLICATION FILED mm. 24, 1908.

THE NORRIS PETER: co.; wAsnmcmu, a. c.

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS, OF MAPLEWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLASP.

I No. 854,430.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed March 24, 1906. Serial No. 307,771.

, To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. PIIILLIPs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maplewood, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improve ments in clasps for garment supporters.

The object of the invention is to produce a clasp, for use in connection with garters and garment supporters of various characters, of the kind in which a portion of the fabric of the arment to be supported is inserted be tween two interlocking members, between which the fabric is held and pinched; and the improvements in the present invention reside particularly in the forms of the interlocking members, by which their efliciency and reliability is increased and the danger of injury to the garment is obviated.

The invention consists in the improved clasp hereinafter described, as defined in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section, of a clasp embodying the present invention.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a tongue member 1 and a cooperating member 2 which are adapted to be secured to a piece of webbing or otherfabric 3 forming a part of the garment supporter, as shown in Fig. 2. The tongue member 1 is provided with a tongue 4 which is embraced when in operation, between two lugs 5 on the clasp member 2. The fabric of the garment to be supported is laid over the member 2 and the upper narrow portion 6 of the tongue is pressed down between the lugs 5, carrying the fabric with it, and the tongue is then drawn longitudinally upward between the lugs until it is in the position of Fig. 1, the fabric being then clasped between the memhers I and 2, as shown in Fig. 3.

The novelty of the present device consists particularly in the form of the tongue 4. and of the lugs co-operating therewith. The portion of the tongue which is embraced by the lugs is enlarged and formed substantially as a segment of a sphere, and the inner surfaces of the lugs have a corresponding form, so that I the co-operating members between which the fabric is pinched have fabric engaging I surfaces of substantial area conforming to one another, so as to hold the fabric firmly without undue pressure or danger of injury at any I particular point. Sharp bends in the fabric at the points of strain are also avoided by this construction. In order that the enlarged portion of the tongue may be drawn into the space between the lugs the tongue is slotted l at 8, providing resiliency which permits the sides of the tongue to be drawn together J slightly as the tongue is drawn into place. This resiliency also causes the tongue to l press the fabric firmly against the lugs, whatever the thickness of the fabric may be. A further advantage of the form of the tongue and the lugs resides in the fact that since the tongue is reduced in size below the enlarged portion and interlocks with the lugs, the tongue will not slip longitudinally downward between the lugs when the garment supporter is temporarily slackened, which occurs frequently in use, and thus the clasp cannot release the garment to which it is attached. The outer surface of the head 7 of the tongue is provided with irregularities, and the head serves as a convenient means for operating the clasp, the thumb of the wearer being pressed against the head in opening and closing the clasp. The head 7 also prevents the tongue from being drawn upward between the lugs. The members 1 and 2 of the clasp are provided wit-h slotted portions 9 and 10 respectively by which they are secured to the webbing 3 in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The inventor is aware that clasps comprising tongue members somewhat similar to those of the present invention have been previously proposed in Letters Patent of the United States, but the present invention is clearly distinguished therefrom by the resiliency of the tongue and by the forms of the tongue and the cooperating member, as above described.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A clasp having, in combination, a tongue member provided with a rounded enlar ed portion between two portions of less width, a co-operating member provided with fabric-engaging surfaces formed to correspond substantially in shape with the enlarger. portion of the tongue, and means loosely connecting said members, substantially as described ICC 2. A clasp having, in combination, a tongue member provided at two points in its length with two enlarged portions and an in termediate narrower portion, a co-operating member having fabric-engaging lugs engaging the tongue at its intermediate narrow portion so as to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of the tongue in either direction, and means loosely connecting said members and permitting relative longitudi nal engaging and disengaging movements thereof, substantially as described.

3. A clasp having, in combination, a tongue member provided with an enlarged portion, a co-operating member having fabric-engaging lugs engaging the tongue above and below the greatest width of the enlarged portion so as normally to prevent longitudinal movement of the tongue in either direct1 on, and means loosely connectlng said members and permitting relative longitudinal engaging and disengaging movements thereof, substantially as described.

4. A clasp having, in combination, a longitudinally-slotted tongue member having an enlarged portion forming substantially a segment of a sphere, a co-operating member pro vided with fabric-engaging lugs having inner surfaces corresponding substantially in form with the enlarged portion of the tongue, and means loosely connecting said members and permitting relative longitudinal engaging and disengaging movements thereof, substantially as described.

5. A clasp having, in combination, a tongue member provided with an enlarged rounded portion for engaging and holding the fabric of a garment to be supported, a head of greater Width than said enlarged portion, and an intermediate narrow portion, a co-operating member provided with lugs for engaging the fabric at the enlarged portion of the tongue, and means loosely connecting said members and permitting relative longitudinal engaging and disengaging movements thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiv my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS.

Witnesses:

FARNUM F. DORSEY, HORACE VAN EvnnEN. 

